Old Companies: M to Z

If you want the volunteer-run PHS to research a company for you, please provide the name, province of incorporation and a year - all of which should show on the stock certificate. Also please read the information below.

We cannot promise to answer questions you send us and we do not provide valuations. The Petroleum History Society is a volunteer-run organization with few resources. However we are keenly interested in Canadian petroleum history and will reply to your questions where we can. Please note:

Our research resources primarily relate to old oil and gas companies in Alberta and, to a lesser extent, Canada. We cannot research modern companies nor companies outside of Canada.

It may take us a long time before we can get back to you.

We do not promise to reply.

We do not guarantee the accuracy of the information below.

Our research is primarily conducted by the Glenbow Archives, under the direction of the Glenbow's Chief Archivist - Doug Cass - who is also one of our Directors. PHS President, Clint Tippett, and other members may also add their knowledge.

What we need from you

Please provide the full company name and its jurisdiction - from the certificate or its operating location.

Share certificates of defunct companies

Even if a company no longer exists, the actual share certificates may be of value to collectors. To check that out, search for "scripophily" at your favorite search engine. The Petroleum History Society would gratefully accept certificates as a donation if you so desire - Canadian companies only. Please email us first to check if we need a copy of the company that you have - info@petroleumhistory.ca. We used copies of old certificates at our booth at Calgary's Gas & Oil Expo in 2013.

How to research old companies yourself

Here are some good references for old oil companies in Alberta and Canada. You may need to find these in an archives where out-of-date copies are kept, rather than just the latest edition.

Financial Post Survey of Oils

Financial Post survey of predecessor and defunct companies

Incorporated companies in Alberta

For more modern companies and companies in other jurisdictions please check with local archives, libraries, museums, or corporate registries. For relatively modern companies - check with stock brokers or other investment professionals.

Here is a commercial service which researches old stock. Please note, we have no experience with this service and this is not an endorsement.

What to do if you find an existing successor company

If your research leads you to an existing company that took over the old company, contact their transfer agent. You can probably find the transfer agent by going to the Investor Relations section of the existing company's website. If you can't find the transfer agent, contact the Investor Relations department of the existing company.

Old companies we have researched

Note - "struck off" or "struck from the corporate register" means the company went out of business, rather than being merged with another firm.

Madison Oil Ltd. - 1926-1987

Magnet Oil Company - 1914-1918

The Magnet Oil Company was incorporated in Alberta in 1914 and struck off in 1918. It did not complete any wells in Alberta and was among the many firms that had short lives in the first Turner Valley boom.

Manitou Gas and Oil Syndicate - circa 1947

Man River Oil and Gas Company - circa 1922

Man River Oil and Gas is a 1922 Montana company that is inactive. North Battleford SK is listed as its address. Also, the 1937 edition of The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils shows a Mann River Oil & Gas Co. Ltd. on the list of Dead, Dormant and Inactive Companies.

Maple Leaf Oil & Refining Co. - 1931-1992

According to the Alberta Companies list, Maple Leaf Oil & Refining was
incorporated in 1931 and was on the books until 1992, although it is
listed as inactive after 1977. From a sampling of various issues of the Financial Post Survey of Oils from the
mid-1930s to the 1970s, Maple Leaf was never listed there.

According to the 1937 edition of The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils Maple Leaf Royalties Ltd. changed its name in 1935 to Canadian Maple Leaf Royalties Ltd. Canadian Maple Leaf Royalties Ltd. is shown as a 1934 incorporation as a Dominion incorporated company. In an agreement with Banner Oils, it was drilling Banner No.1 at 6-34-17-3W5 at 2240 feet in October of 1936. Operations were being financed by the sale of royalty shares. No further information was located. Eagle Energy advised that this is NOT the Maple Leaf Royalties Corp. that they acquired in January 2016. Maple Leaf Funds also say this is "not us".

Marigold Oils Limited - 1949-1962

Marigold was incorporated in Alberta in 1949. Its name was changed in 1962 to Unisphere Explorers Ltd. and in 1969 to New Unisphere Resources Ltd. The Alberta Corporate Registry may have information on their current status.

(The) Maritime Petroleum Company, Limited - 1914-1920

The list of companies registered in Alberta shows this firm was incorporated in 1914 and struck from the register in 1920. Our researcher doesn't believe it actually drilled for oil during the Turner Valley boom.

Maverick Mines and Oils Ltd. - 1952-1972

Maverick Mines and Oils was incorporated in Alberta in 1952. According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils it changed its name to Peregrine Petroleum Ltd. in 1972. It appears Peregrine Petroleum Ltd. was delisted from the stock exchange in 1992 (TSX Venture symbol PGR).

(This is an excerpt from "Canada's Early Oil Industry - A Brief History" by Brenda Curtis, originally published in The Petro-Philatelist. It was reproduced with permission of the author in the Petroleum History Society's newsletter Archives in June 2000.)

McColl-Anderson Oil Company was formed in 1873 in Toronto, Ontario, and consisted of a refinery and a lubricating oil and grease facility. Sometime before 1897 the name was shortened to McColl Bros. In 1927 it merged with Frontenac Oil Refineries to become McColl-Frontenac Oil Company. By then it had operations coast-to-coast. Around this time the Texas Corporation began to buy shares in McColl-Frontenac and within a few years gained controlling interest in the company. It further strengthened its interests by having McColl-Frontenac buy the Texas Company of Canada which had operations in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

The McColl-Frontenac name and its Red Indian products were in use until 1941 when they were replaced by the Texaco name and its Sky Chief products.

The McColl-Frontenac named was changed to Texaco in
1959. Texaco was acquired by Imperial Oil in 1989.

McLeod Oil Company - 1922-1963

According to the Alberta Companies list the McLeod Oil Company was incorporated in Alberta in 1922 and struck from the Alberta Corporate Register on December 14, 1963. The company drilled five wells in Turner Valley during the 1920s.

Melbourne Oil Company Limited - circa 1928

Melbourne Oil Company Limited was incorporated federally in 1928. According to The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils - 1937 they were "Inactive. Well in Stoney Indian Reserve, Alberta, abandoned."

Mercury Oils, Limited - 1929-1956

According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils, Mercury Oils was incorporated in 1929 and produced in both Turner Valley and Leduc fields. It was acquired in 1955-1956 by Mill City Petroleum which was in turn taken over by Pan Ocean Oil Corporation in 1971. Pan Ocean Oil Corporation was purchased by Marathon Oil Corporation in 1976.

Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Ltd. - 1937-1943 and
1942-1953

Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Ltd. is curious because two companies with the same name seem to have been incorporated in Alberta at the same time.

The first was incorporated in 1937 and struck from the register in 1943. The second was incorporated in 1942 and in 1953 changed its name to Midcon Oil and Gas Ltd. It seems to have been wound up in 1977 but an inquiry with Alberta Registries might provide further information.

Midway Oil Co. Ltd. - 1936-1938

Mid-West Oil Company, Limited - 1917-1939

Mid-West Oil was incorporated in Alberta in 1917, formed by the merger of Northwestern Pacific Oil Company and Western Pacific Oil Company. Mid-West was struck from the Alberta Corporate register in 1939. However, the 1929 Financial Post Survey of Oils indicates it was inactive at that time, but controlled by Dalhousie Oil, a subsidiary of Imperial Oil.

Mid-West Petroleum Corporation Limited - 1932-1948

Mid-West Petroleum Corporation Limited was incorporated provincially in Alberta in 1932. It was struck from the incorporation register in 1948, and there is no indication in the Companies list that it was taken over by anyone.

Milk River Oils Limited - 1929- circa 1937

It is unlikely this company still exists. The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils - 1937 lists Milk River Oils Ltd. with a Dominion Incorporation in 1929.
But there is no record of it on websites for Archives Canada, all Canadian Government sites, and Alberta Energy.

Monarch Oil Company Limited - 1914-1928

Monarch Oils Limited - 1950-1986

The list of Alberta companies shows that this firm was incorporated in 1950 and struck from the registry in 1986. There is no indication in the list that it was purchased by or changed into another company. The 1961 Canadian Oil Register says the company “is in voluntary liquidation”.

Monterey Petroleum Corporation (1971) Ltd. - 1971-1981

Moose Mountain Oil Company, Limited - 1914-1939

Moose Mountain was incorporated in Alberta in 1914 and struck from the Alberta Corporate Register in 1939. The 1929 Financial Post Survey of Oils indicates that they held lands in the Moose Mountain Field they leased to the Signal Hill Oil Company for development.

Miracle Royalties - 1942

Our inquirer was asking about a certificate for Miracle Royalties Well No. 2 (6-4-21-3-W5), dated June 30, 1942, in Calgary, Alberta, under the name of Toole Peet Trust Company. The name "Vanpeg Royalties Limited" also appears on the certificate. Our researcher could find no record of the Miracle Royalties company.

“The Mount Stephen Oil Company was organized by George Cloakey and T. G. Weston. They drilled a well in the Monarch field west of Olds, Alberta that by 1916 cost of $100,000. A second well was put down in Turner Valley but was suspended in 1919. After this, Mount Stephen attempted to negotiate a sale of their holdings, which was eventually accomplished with the disposal of the assets to the McLeod Oil company in return for shares. Cloakey then went on to establish the Seneca Oil Company.”

A few notes on George Cloakey: Mr. And Mrs. Cloakey first came to the Westerdale District in 1890, homesteading on SW 1/4 of Sec.36-32-3-W5M (Alberta). Having developed his homestead they moved to Olds where he became a real estate agent and a landman for the CPR. Later they moved to Calgary and he was active in oil field developments in the Turner Valley area.

Mud Lake Oil Fields Limited - 1914-1920

Murrieta California Oils Limited - early 1900s-1979

Murrieta California Oils Limited was incorporated in British Columbia in the early 1900s. Our researcher could not find any reference to this firm in the normal reference works, such as the Financial Post Survey of Oils or Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct companies. One correspondent has shares purchased in 1938 and 1947, so the company was still in existence then, and was dissolved August 9, 1979 (thanks Carmen). The British Columbia registrar of companies or the British Columbia archives may be able to provide more information.

Nanberta Oils Limited (or Danberta?) - circa 1929

National Oil Company - 1914-1915

National Petroleum Corporation Limited - 1936- ?

According to the Companies list that our researcher has, National Petroleum was incorporated in 1936 in Alberta and at the time our list was printed (1997) it was still active. However it ceased trading on exchanges in 1995. According to the Nickle Directory that we have for 1993-1994 it was operated out of San Antonio, Texas, with an office in Calgary, but by the time of the 1997 directory it is not listed. You can probably contact any registry office in Alberta and they should be able to tell you when it closed down, if in fact it did.

New Marvel Oils Limited - 1924-1980

New Red Creek Oil and Gas Ltd. - 1951-1971

The list of incorporated companies in Alberta shows New Red Creek was incorporated in 1951 and in 1971 was merged with another company. Unfortunately the list does not give the name of the other firm. A search at any registry office in Alberta may give you the successor company name. The company must have been a very small operation as the Oil and Gas directories from the early 1950s to the early 1970s never mention New Red Creek.

Nordev Resources Limited - circa 1979

Norsul Oil and Mining Limited - 1949-circa 1984

Norsul was created on April 26, 1949, when Golden Spike Oil, Ltd. was incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta. Norsul became Aldina-Leduc Oil, Ltd. on February 28, 1959, and Norsul on February 17, 1961. Little information was found online, however a cease-trade order was issued in 1984.

Northland Oils Limited - circa 1971

Our inquirer had Northland Oils Limited stock certificates dated 1971, showing the company was incorporated under the laws of the province of Alberta. An internet search found that a company called Northland Oils Limited is now called Combined Logistics International Ltd. with a head office in Nassau.

Northland Utilities - 1945-1972

Northland was incorporated in Alberta in July 1945. In 1972 its gas assets were acquired by Northwestern Utilities and its electrical generation and distributing assets by Alberta Power Company. Northland was then wound up.

North Western Pacific Oil Company Limited - 1914 - 1960

This company was incorporated in Alberta in 1914 and lasted until 1960 when it was struck. North Western Pacific was taken over by Mid-West Oil Company Limited in the 1917. Mid-West was a subsidiary of Royalite Oil which was owned originally by Imperial Oil and then by Gulf. Many of the historical records of Royalite are held by Glenbow, but there seems to be no record of this firm.

Oil Creek Petroleum - 1914 - 1920

Oil Creek Petroleum was one of the hundreds of firms established in response to the first boom in Turner Valley. The 1997 list of incorporated Alberta companies shows it was established in 1914 but struck off the register in 1920.

Oil Ventures Limited - 1938-1970

Okalta Oils, Ltd. - 1925-1970

Okalta Oils, Ltd. was incorporated in Canada in 1925. They held acreage and drilled wells in the Turner Valley Field. William Stewart Herron was the president of the company. The company changed its name to Oakwood Petroleums Ltd. in 1970.

Ontario-Alberta Oil Explorations Limited - circa 1929

Ontario-Alberta Oil was incorporated under the Companies Act of Canada. According to the 1937 edition of The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils, Ontario-Alberta Oil Explorations is "believed to be dead, dormant or inactive."

Osias Resources Canada Ltd. - 1971-1974

Previously Anaconda Oil Company Ltd., Canadian Anaconda Oils Ltd. and Anaconda Petroleum Ltd., the company changed its name to Zebedee Oil Ltd. in 1971, then Osias Resources Canada Ltd. the same year. In 1974 the name changed again to Troy Gold Industries Ltd. Troy was struck off the register in 1981.

Pacific Petroleums Ltd. - ?-1978

Palliser Oils Limited - 1928 - ~1938

Palliser Oils received Dominion incorporation in 1928 to explore in Turner Valley. They are gone from the Financial Post Survey of Oils by the mid-1930s. According to the Schedule of Wells put out by the Alberta Conservation Board they drilled no wells.

Pamawala Oil and Gas Company Limited - ?

Our researcher can find no record of Pamawala Oil and Gas Company Limited in the Financial Post Survey of Oils and the FP Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies. As the company was incorporated in Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Corporate Registry may have some information on it.

PanCanadian Petroleum began in 1971. It was the new name of the company resulting from the purchase of Central-Del Rio by Canadian Pacific Oil and Gas. PanCanadian was purchased by Alberta Energy Company in 2002 and became EnCana. Later EnCana was split into EnCana and Cenovus.

Pan Ocean Oil Corporation - ?-1976

Pan Western Oils Ltd. - ?-1960

Paracorp Limited - 1981-1992

According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils and Predecessor & Defunct Companies, Paracorp Limited became the new name of Amalta Oils & Minerals in November 1981 and was struck from the companies register on July 1, 1992.

Paramount Oils Limited - circa 1935-1954

Patron Oil Company - 1928-?

In the Financial Post Survey of Oils for 1929 (its first year), Patron is listed as incorporated in
Saskatchewan in 1928, with headquarters in Winnipeg. The next volume our researcher has is for 1937 and the
company is not listed. Our researcher found a manual circa 1950s put out by Gas & Oil Products Ltd./ Gas & Oil Refineries Ltd./ Patron Oil Company Ltd./ Valley Oil Operators Ltd. so it seems that Patron merged with this other group of firms from Calgary.

Peninsular Petroleums Limited - 1929-1937

Peregrine Petroleum Ltd. - 1972-1992

According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils, Maverick Mines and Oils changed its name to Peregrine Petroleum Ltd. in 1972. It appears Peregrine Petroleum Ltd. was delisted from the stock exchange in 1992 (TSX Venture symbol PGR).

Petro-Canada - 1976-2009

Petro-Canada, a Canadian Crown corporation, started operating in 1976. It merged with Suncor Energy in 2009. The upstream division is known as Suncor Energy, while the retail arm retained the Petro-Canada name.

Our researcher could not find information on Petro Oil and Gas. However he found that Petrol Oil and Gas was incorporated in Ontario in 1920 and in 1983 amalgamated with Universal Explorations Ltd. under the latter name. As of the late 1990s it was apparently still in operation.

Pinnacle Petroleums Ltd. - circa 1969

Place Gas and Oil Company Ltd.
Place Resources Corporation - 1958- circa 2000

Place Gas and Oil Company Ltd. was incorporated in Ontario in 1958 and up to the 1960s most of its activities were in Ontario. The name was changed to Place Resources Corporation in 1986 and the headquarters moved to Calgary. In 1998 it was a ‘junior’ oil company with only 8 employees. Place Resources was acquired by Star Oil & Gas Ltd. in 2000. Then Star was acquired by ARC Energy Trust in 2003. The following link may indicate if your shares flowed through to ARC or if they were cancelled: http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/en/SecuritiesLaw_ord_20010309_218_placeresources.htm

Pontiac Petroleum - 1953-1959

Prairie City Oil Company Ltd. - 1912-1932

Prairie City Oil Company Ltd. was incorporated in
Alberta in 1912. It was inactive in the 1920s and was struck from the
register in 1932.

There also is a Prairie City Oil Company listed in the 1912 Henderson's directory for Winnipeg - A. E. Lewis, Manager, importers and
manufacturers of illuminating and lubricating oils, greases and
specialties. We don't know if this is the same Alberta company, or a different company. It was still listed in 1928 but gone from the 1942 directory (which is the next one we have access to after the 1928 one).

Prairie Oil Cooperative - 1945-1974

Prairie Oil Royalties Company, Ltd. - 1951-1995

Prairie Oil Royalties Company, Ltd. was incorporated in Saskatchewan in 1951, and continued in 1978. The company amalgamated with 609764 Saskatchewan Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Norcen Energy Resources Limited, in 1995.

Price Oil Development and Refining Company Limited - 1928-circa 1937

According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils for 1929 this company was incorporated in Saskatchewan in 1928, with headquarters in Winnipeg. It operated plants in Vancouver, Edmonton, Wainwright and Moose Jaw. The 1937 Financial Post Survey of Oils shows the company as "wound up".

Progress Oil & Gas Company, Limited - 1914

Provincial Gas and Oil Company - ?

The 1952 edition of the Financial Post Survey of Oils shows that Provincial Gas and Oil Company was already “dead or dormant”. As the company was incorporated in Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Corporate Registry may have some information on it.

The Prudential Oil and Gas Company, Limited - 1914-1920

Involved in Alberta oil development generated by the first Turner Valley wells of 1914. Turner Valley pioneer Stewart Herron was involved in this company. Prudential was incorporated in 1914 and struck in 1920.

In June of 1914, the head office was 704A Centre Street, Calgary, Alberta, Phone M 6390. The Directors were:

Quebec Oil Development Ltd. - circa 1949-1957?

Quebec Oil Development appears to be a Quebec incorporation. We found some information in American newspapers from the mid 1950s about a "gigantic Canadian oil-stock swindle" - which Quebec Oil appears to have been involved in - and a stock broker being suspended.

Queen City Oil Company - 1877 - 1912

Queen City Oil was established by Samuel Rogers in 1877, later acquired by Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust, and acquired by Imperial Oil in 1899 when Standard acquired control of Imperial. The company name was changed from Queen City Oil Works to Queen City Oil Company in 1882. It was Ontario's largest petroleum wholesaler. (Rogers' brother, Elias, had his own company, called Elias Rogers and Sons, that was purchased by McColl Brothers.)

Quoting from Mulvany, Charles Pelham and Graham Adam Mercer, “The History of Toronto and County of York” Toronto, 1885:

"Queen City Oil Company, 30 Front Street East, was established in Toronto by Samuel Rogers & Co., in January, 1877, under the name of the Queen City Oil Works, which was changed to its present style in 1882, with Samuel Rogers as manager. The works were on the Esplanade till 1882, when they were removed to their present location. The manufactory is situated on Sherbourne Street, and is a brick structure 66 x 119 feet, with a wing 60 x 22. There are two brick warehouses on Princess Street, being respectively 60 X 22 feet and 40 x 80 feet, the latter having a wing 25 x 80 feet. There are also offices and cooper shops. Eighteen men are employed at the works; nine in the office, and twelve on the road in Ontario. At Montreal there is a branch warehouse, where a large quantity of oil is sold annually. The business has increased from time to time until at present it reaches fully half a million of dollars a year. All kinds of lubricating and refined oils are manufactured, and sold in every part of the Dominion. The company owns six tank cars, which are constantly kept busy on the road. In 1883 they received gold medals at Toronto, Guelph and London."

Quinalta Petroleum Ltd. - circa 1957-1975

Quonto Petroleums Limited - 1957-1972

According to the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor Companies, Quonto Petroleums was incorporated in Ontario in 1957; the name was changed to Quonto Exploration Limited in 1962 and it was dissolved in 1972.

Ranchmen's Resources Ltd. - 1988-1995

Rand Petroleums Limited- 1920

The Alberta Companies list shows no record of the company being incorporated in Alberta. It is also not listed on the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies. There is a listing in the 1929 Financial Post Survey of Oils but it refers to a federally incorporated firm established that year, 9 years after this company.

Range Oil & Gas Co. Ltd. - circa 1929

Ranger Oil Company Limited - 1926- circa 1940s

Ranger Oil Company Ltd. was incorporated in 1926 (under Dominion incorporation) to drill in Turner Valley. Its headquarters was in Calgary. The Financial Post Survey of Oils in the mid-1940s says it was defunct by that time.

Ranger Oil Ltd. - 1950-2000

Ranger Oil was an Alberta based company with its main office in Calgary. Originally under Maygill Petroleum Company Ltd., Ranger Oil was created in 1950 with the mission to explore and develop oil and gas formations in North America. In 1958, Jack Pierce, the first president and personality behind the creation of Ranger, incorporated the company. In August 2000, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. purchased Ranger Oil.

Record Oil Company Limited - 1914-1936

The Record Oil Company was incorporated in Alberta in 1914 and struck from the register in 1936. It started one well in the Turner Valley field in Alberta. Record was taken over by Mill City Petroleum in 1929, which in turn was taken over by Pan Ocean Oil Corporation in 1971. Pan Ocean was purchased by Marathon Oil in 1976.

Red Creek Oil and Gas Ltd. - 1951-1975

The Alberta Companies List shows Red Creek was incorporated in Alberta in 1951. In 1975 it indicates that the company’s status has changed. This usually means the company was purchased by someone but it doesn't say who that was.

Red Star Refineries Ltd. and
Canadian Marine Engineering Company Ltd.

We could not find any reference to Red Star or Canadian Marine Engineering. The inquirer mentioned a take-over by Frontenac Oil Refineries Ltd. We will check the Imperial Oil Archives at the Glenbow for some information on Frontenac which ultimately became part of Imperial.

Redwater Consolidated Oils, Limited - circa 1949

Reef Petroleums Ltd.
Reef Explorations Ltd. - circa 1953

According to Financial Post Infomart, a company called New Klondike Exploration Ltd. had former names of Reef Petroleums Ltd., Reef Explorations Ltd., United Reef Petroleums Limited, and United Reef Limited.

Refineries Distributors Ltd - circa 1929

The 1929 Financial Post Survey of Oils (first year printed) lists the company as having Federal Incorporation and headquarters in Edmonton. The company is not mentioned in the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies and the Alberta Companies List. The Library and Archives Canada may have more information. Our inquirer said the vice president of the company was H.S. Stewart.

(The) Regent Oil Company Limited ? - 1920

The 1969 Canadian Oil Register shows that the company was incorporated in Ontario in 1949 – headquarters at 555 Burhamthorpe Rd, Etobicoke. It was controlled by Cessland Corporation. The Officers were G. E. Buchanan of Toronto and N. Murray of Islington, and Directors were S.G. Moore, G. E. Buchanan, L. R. Johnson and S. Nikiforuk, all of Toronto and W. S. Bishop of Etobicoke. They had small gas production at Cessford, Alberta.

The Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies shows the Resolute Oil & Gas Company Ltd. incorporated in Ontario in 1949 changed its name in 1965 to Resolute Petroleums Ltd. It changed its name again on July 26, 1988 to Resolute Corporation. We could not find out anything after that.

Perhaps the Ontario Archives could provide some additional background on the firm.

Roberta Oils - 1930

Rockton Oil and Gas Company Limited - 1936

Our inquirer had shares of this company which indicate it was in operation around 1936 in Dundas, Ontario. Our researcher could not find any information about this firm in the usual sources such as the Financial Post Survey of Oils and the Canadian Oil and Gas Directory. He suggested contacting the Ontario Archives.

Rocky Mountain Oilfields Ltd. - before 1937

According to the 1937 issue of The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils this company was “Wound up; charter surrendered or cancelled; declared to be dead by company officials or by persons believed to be responsible to answer for the company.”

Royal Arch Oils Limited - 1951 - 1956

Saskalon Uranium and Oils Ltd. - before 1961

Our reader was tracing Metoils, a Canadian company from
1948. They had already found out that Metoils was bought in 1953 by Savannah Oils and Mines Ltd., which was then bought in 1954 by Saskalon Uranium and Oils Ltd.

The Financial Post Survey of Oils says that
Saskalon Uranium and Oils was dissolved in 1961.

Saskatchewan Petroleum Company Limited - 1914-?

Our researcher could not find any reference to this company. However The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils for 1937 shows "Sask. Petroleum Co." as "Struck off register", which may or may not be the same company. The Saskatchewan Corporate Registry may have more information.

According to the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies, Sastex was originally incorporated in Alberta in 1953 as Sastex Oil & Gas Limited. It was re-incorporated in 1984 as Sastex Petro-Minerals Ltd. but struck from the register on July 1, 1992.

Seneca Explorations Limited - 1962-1967

Select Oils Ltd. - 1949-1962

According to the Companies list our researcher has, Select Oils was incorporated in 1949 and struck from the register of companies in 1962. The Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies indicates the assets were purchased in 1962 by Medallion Petroleums. Medallion merged with Canadian Industrial Gas and Oil in 1964 and then with several other companies to create Norcen Energy in 1975.

Senator Oil and Gas - 1929

Sentinel Oils - 1926-1947 and
1937-1955

Sentinel Oils was incorporated federally in 1926 and drilled one well in
the Calling Valley field near Turner Valley, Alberta. There were
several stops and starts and it was not abandoned until about 1947,
without production. There was also a Sentinel Oils incorporated in
Alberta in 1937 which was likely the same firm; it was struck from the
register of companies in 1955.

Share Oils Limited - 1936-1965

Shunda Oils Limited - 1944-1956

According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils, Shunda was incorporated in both Ontario and Alberta in 1944. The company headquarters were in Windsor, Ontario and their landholdings were in the Shunda Creek structure in Alberta. The #1 well was drilled in the mid-1940s and abandoned on August 1, 1947. The company also owned shares in and partnered with Lion Oils, Kitalta Oils and Canokla drilling. The directors were W. F. Bowman, W. H. Thibaudeau, N. C. McDonald of Windsor, O. H. Fisher of Detroit and J. C. Milligan of Calgary. The company was inactive by the early 1950s and was struck from the companies list in 1956.

South End Petroleums Limited - 1929

Spartan Explorations, Ltd. - 1967-1974

According to the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies the company was incorporated in BC in 1967 and the name changed to Nuspar Resources in August 1974. The company was struck from the registry and dissolved in September 1995.

Spartan Oil Company - 1914-1920

Spike-Redwater Oil Co., Limited - 1949-1960

Spike-Redwater Oil Co. was incorporated in Ontario in 1949. They operated out of Toronto and had acreage in St. Michel and Lloydminster. They were struck from the companies register in 1960. This company was incorporated by the same group as Leberta-Redwater Oil Co., Limited.

While that company appears to be out of business, a company called Spooner Oils Limited was formed under a Dominion charter in 1926. According to the 1937 The Financial Post Survey of Canadian Oils this Calgary company was still in business in 1937 with producing wells in the Turner Valley area.

Standard Oil Fields of Alberta, Limited - 1913-1918

The Alberta Companies list shows this firm was incorporated in Alberta in 1913 and then struck from the register in 1918. It was one of many early Turner Valley firms that did not even get to the point of starting a well.

Steepbank Oil and Asphalt Company - 1912-1916

Stokes-Stephens Oil Company, Limited - 1914-1923

The Stokes-Stephens company was incorporated in 1914 and wound up in 1923. It began drilling a well in Turner Valley but the company had trouble with its drilling contractor and was unable to complete the well.

Sturgeon Petroleums Ltd. - 1950 - 1994

Sulpetro of Canada Ltd. - 1966 - 1988

Sulpetro of Canada Ltd. was incorporated in Alberta in 1966 and changed its name to Sulpetro Limited in 1978. In 1981 it amalgamated with CanDel Oil Ltd. continuing under the name Sulpetro Limited in 1981. Sulpetro's assets were bought by Esso Resources Canada Limited in 1988.

Sunbeam Oil Company Limited - 1914-191650 - 1994

Sunburst Oil Company - 1937-1955

According to the Financial Post Survey of Oils Sunset Oils was incorporated in Alberta in 1937. They drilled two wells in Turner Valley [#1 in 1937 and #2 in 1938] which continued to produce for several years. They also partnered with several other firms in the McConset syndicate at Leduc which drilled 5 successful wells. Sunset dissolved in 1955.

Sunburst Petroleum - circa 1980-1983

Sunburst Petroleum, of Vancouver, does not show in the Canadian Oil Register for the early and mid-1980s. The BC corporate registrar may have some information on this company. The shares stopped trading in 1983 and Sunburst was delisted by the Vancouver Stock Exchange in 1984.

Super Oil Syndicate - 1939

Supertest Petroleum Company - 1923-1971

"The Canadian holding company of British Petroleum was renamed BP Canada in 1969; and in 1971, it acquired 97.8% stake of Supertest. Subsequently, Supertest was renamed to BP Canada Ltd, and other Canadian interests of British Petroleum amalgamated to the new company."
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Canada thanks to David W.

"I couldn't find any reference to this Tawadina Syndicate in any of the corporate level references I have. Consequently I believe that it was a privately held company or arrangement. ...

"Richland Oil Development of Canada Limited was incorporated in Alberta in 1951. It changed its name to Richland Oil and Gas Ltd. in 1955. The latter is also listed as having been incorporated in Alberta in 1951 and it was merged into Toloda Drilling Ltd. in 1971. I could find no further trace of this last company."

Ram River Oils was struck from the Alberta Corporate Register in 1963. There is a good little history of Ram River in the June 1982 issue of Roughneck magazine.

Teapot Dome Oils, Ltd. - 1929-1930

Teapot Dome Oils, Ltd. was federally incorporated in 1929 by a group of investors from England, the US and Vancouver. Most of the company holdings were in Wyoming, but the firm took over Roberta Oils, an early Turner Valley firm.

Not much development work was done and in the 1939 Financial Post survey of oils it says that the firm had merged into the Atlantic Keystone Petroleums Ltd. which had been inactive since the early 1930s

Texaco Canada - to 1989

Around 1927 the Texas Corporation began to buy shares in McColl-Frontenac and within a few years gained controlling interest in the company. It further strengthened its interests by having McColl-Frontenac buy the Texas Company of Canada which had operations in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The McColl-Frontenac named was changed to Texaco in 1959. Texaco was acquired by Imperial Oil in 1989.

Texas Oil Venture, Limited - circa 1934

Thistle Oil Company Ltd. - 1914-1920

This was one of hundreds of small firms established during the first major oil boom at Turner Valley in 1914. Very few wells were ever drilled by these firms before the war intervened. Thistle was incorporated in 1914 and struck from the register in 1920.

Titan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. - 1951-1977

Titan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. is listed in the Alberta Companies list - it was incorporated on March 12, 1951 and struck off on May 14, 1977. The company seems to have been based in Calgary in the 1960s and it moved to Vancouver in the 1970s. Most of their wells were in the USA.

Trans-Canada Explorations Limited - 1955-1964

Trans-Canada Resources Ltd. - 1982-1989

In 1988, Trans-Canada Resources did a 1 for 10 reverse split and became Consolidated Transcanada. In 1989, it was acquired by Ranchmen's Resources. In 1995, Transcanada/ Ranchmen's was acquired by Crestar Energy. In November 2000, Crestar Energy, Inc. was acquired by Gulf Canada Resources Limited. Then Gulf Canada was then taken over by Conoco in 2001.

Trans-Empire Oils - 1950-1957

Trans-Empire Oils was incorporated federally in 1950. The name was changed to West Canadian Oil and Gas in 1957 which then merged with Canadian Delhi Oil Ltd. in 1961. The named was changed to CanDel Oil Ltd in 1972 and it was purchased in 1981 by Sulpetro. The latter firm sold all of its assets to Esso Resources Canada in 1988. (The Glenbow Archives in Calgary holds some of the operating records of West Canadian Oil as part of the West Canadian Collieries Ltd. papers.)

Trans-Leduc Oils Ltd. - 1948-1964

The Trans-Leduc Oils Ltd. was incorporated in Ontario in 1948 and dissolved in 1964. The directors towards the end of the company's activities were W. T. Davidson and D. Davidson. It doesn't appear from the directories that the company was carried on by another firm.

Trans-Western Oils Limited - 1947-1967

Trend Petroleums Limited - circa 1955

We could not find information on Trend Petroleum Limited of Toronto, Ontario. The company was not incorporated in Alberta according to the Alberta Companies list. Several issues of the Financial Post Survey of Oils for the mid-1960s do not list the company. The Ontario Corporate Registry may have information on this company.

Trenton Gas and Oil Ltd. - 1962

The Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies (1997) says the company was incorporated in Ontario in 1962 and dissolved on May 29, 1961. The latter is obviously a typo but it appears that it was closed down at an early stage.

Trenton Oil Company, Limited 1914-1916

Triad Oil Company ?-1953

"In 1953, British Petroleum Company (BP) entered the Canadian market through the purchase of a minority stake in Calgary-based Triad Oil Company."
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Canada thanks to David W.

Turbo Resources Limited - ?-1990

Turner Valley Supply Company Ltd. - 1935-1949

The companies list for Alberta shows that Turner Valley Supply was incorporated in Alberta in 1935 and operated until 1949 when its status changed (not sure what happened then). The Henderson’s City Directories for Calgary list the company at #510, 300 – 8th Avenue S. W., with C. H. Hanson as manager through the 1940s, but it is not in the 1950 directory.

Turner Valley Supply Company Ltd. - 1935-1949

The companies list for Alberta shows that Turner Valley Supply was incorporated in Alberta in 1935 and operated until 1949 when its status changed (not sure what happened then). The Henderson’s City Directories for Calgary list the company at #510, 300 – 8th Avenue S. W., with C. H. Hanson as manager through the 1940s, but it is not in the 1950 directory.

Twin River Petroleums (Alberta) Ltd. - 1947-1958

Ulster Petroleums Ltd. - to 2000

Union Pacific Consolidated Oils Limited - 1914-1916

Union Pacific Consolidated Oils Limited was incorporated in Alberta in 1914 by John Engman of Calgary. He merged 6 or 7 of the little Turner Valley companies and altogether the firm drilled 5 wells. A good deal of their money came from investors in the US midwest. By 1916 the company had found no production so it was liquidated. It was struck from the companies register in 1921.

Union Pacific Resources Group Inc. - ?-2000

United Canso Oil & Gas Ltd. - 1954-1995

According to the McGill digital library, United Canso Oil & Gas Ltd. was incorporated in Canada in 1954. The company was placed into receivership in 1988, and it was dissolved in 1995 following liquidation of assets. Shareholders received no value.

According to the Devenish Building website (http://thedevenish.com/pages/history.html), Oscar Devenish took out leases in southern Alberta that eventually amalgamated to form United Oils of Alberta Ltd., destined to be one of the most active firms in southern Alberta before the depression. United Oils became dormant by 1916 and Devenish moved to the Texas oilfields where he was active for a number of years in a company called Devenish, Thomas and Ludlow. He returned to Calgary in the 1920's and United drilled a successful well in the border fields of Southern Alberta. Further United drilling in Turner Valley was successful and the company survived to be taken over by Home Oil in 1965. (See also Devenish Oil Co.)

Oscar Devenish’s United Oils of Alberta was sold to the federally incorporated United Oils Limited* which eventually was taken over by Home Oil, as mentioned above. United Oils of Alberta Limited was struck from the Alberta Corporate Register on September 26, 1986.

According to the Alberta Companies list United Oils Limited* was incorporated in Alberta in 1939 and struck from the register in 1950. Another source shows it struck from the Alberta Corporate Register on June 30, 1981. (* Perhaps United Oils Limited was incorporated both in Alberta and federally.)

Vanlos Oil Lands Limited - circa 1952

Vanlos Oil Lands Limited was incorporated in British Columbia circa 1952. It owned 40 acres in the Murietta field in California. We found no other information. The B.C. Corporate Registrar may have some more information.

Vanpeg Royalties Limited - 1939-1947

Venus Oils - 1951-1958?

According the Alberta Companies List Venus Oils was incorporated in Alberta in 1951, with a Calgary office. The person with the share certificate advised us that Venus Oils had some joint ventures with Royal Arch Oils and Bond Petroleum (both of these companies were struck in the late 1950s) and apparently was drilling on its own in the Del Bonita area.

There seems to be a discrepancy in the various reference sources as the Companies list says the status of the firm changed in 1975 (that is, it changed its name or was bought out) but offers no indication of what that change was. However, according to all of the various editions of the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies, they all say it was struck from the register in 1958.

Vimy Oils Limited - 1926-?

Vulcan Oils Limited - 1922-1958

Vulcan Oils was incorporated in Alberta in 1925. The name was changed to Siscalta Oils Ltd in 1958, then purchased by Siscoe Mines Ltd of Quebec in 1963. Their name was changed to United Siscoe Mines Ltd in 1971, to United Siscoe Mines Inc. in 1980, to Horsham Corporation (Peter Munk's company) in 1987. In 1996 they incorporated in Ontario. Horsham Corporation merged and reorganized to form Trizec Properties. Trizec Properties was bought out by Brookfield Properties Corp. and Blackstone Group in 2006. We suggest you check with Brookfield's investor department.

Wainwell Oils Ltd. - 1927-?

Wainwright Dome Oil Company Limited - ?-2011

Corporations Canada shows "Dissolved for non-compliance (s. 212) on 2011-07-14." The 1997 edition of the Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies indicates that Wainwright Dome was chartered federally in 1924 and by that year its charter had been cancelled.

Wainwright Petroleums, Limited - 1926-1929

Wampum Oils Ltd. - 1952-?

This firm was incorporated in Alberta in 1952. The Alberta Companies List says its status changed in 1987 but we could not find any mention of this in the Financial Post Directory of Predecessor Companies.

Warwick Oil Syndicate - circa 1937-1953

Wellington Oil and Gas Company Limited - 1926-1968

Wellington Oil and Gas Company Limited was federally incorporated in 1926. It may have also been provincially incorporated in 1932. The name changed to Ibex Oil Limited in 1968 and then in July 1982 to Dalier Resources Limited (basis 1 new for 3 old shares). On October 25, 1994, Dalier changed its name to Vescan Equities Inc., which then changed its name on December 24, 1999 to Inouye Technolgies (Canada) Inc. (basis 1 new for 110 old shares). On October 4, 2005, Inouye Technologies was dissolved.

Wesberta Oils Company - to 1959

Wesley Gas Co. Ltd. - circa 1986

We checked the Canadian Oil Register for the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s but I could find no reference to this firm. The Register is a pretty comprehensive tool for industry information so this company may have been a small operation. Perhaps the Companies branch of the Ontario government may have more information.

Wespac Petroleums Limited - circa 1954-1970s

Wespac Petroleums Limited, incorporated in Ontario, declared bankruptcy in the 1970s after several name changes. (Thanks to The Mailey Rogers Group, Personal Wealth Management, ScotiaMcLeod for this information.)

Western Decalta - 1947-1977

Western Decalta was established in 1947 and was dissolved in 1977. Its assets were sold to Loram, a company owned by the Mannix family of Calgary.

In 2009, Mancal Energy states on its website: "The Mancal Group has been involved in the oil and gas business through a number of entities including Nuehren-Mannix Petroleum (in 1914), Western Decalta and Pembina Resources. Mancal re-entered the energy industry in the summer of 1999 when Mancal Energy Inc. was created."

Western Petrochemical Corporation Ltd. - 1952-1964

According to an Alberta corporate registry list, Western Petrochemical was incorporated in Alberta in 1952 and struck from the register in 1964. The company had an office in Edmonton and had interests in wells in the Leduc field.

Western Petroleum Company of Calgary - 1914-1924

Western Provinces Oil Company Limited - 1926-1930

Western Provinces Oil Company Limited was incorporated under the Laws of the Dominion of Canada, dated 19th May 1926. The Financial Post Survey of Oils for 1929 says that the company was headquartered in Saskatoon, was federally incorporated, C. G. Locke was the Secretary and that they were in the midst of drilling their first well. The 1929 Financial Post Directory says the well results were inconclusive. In the Financial Post Survey of Oils for 1937 (the next issue our researcher has) the company is said to be defunct.

Westgrowth Petroleums Ltd. to 1986

Westgrowth was incorporated in Alberta in 1981 and was continued as a BC corporation in 1986. It changed its name to Canadian Westgrowth Ltd. in October 1986. (Thanks to Doug Sweeting, CFP, of Langley, BC, for this information.)

York Oils, Ltd. - circa 1937

Zebedee Oil Ltd - 1971-1974

Previously Anaconda Oil Company Ltd., Canadian Anaconda Oils Ltd. and Anaconda Petroleum Ltd., the company changed its name to Zebedee Oil Ltd. in 1971, then Osias Resources Canada Ltd. the same year. In 1974 the name changed again to Troy Gold Industries Ltd. Troy was struck off the register in 1981.